Democracy in New Zealand
New Zealand: Democracy was 7 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
7
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
1st
of 198 countries
All-time high
7
in 1893
All-time low
0
in 1841
Years of data
185
1841–2025
Democracy in New Zealand, 1841–2025
Source: Lexical Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for democracy in New Zealand is 7, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 185 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, democracy in New Zealand peaked at 7 in 1893 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1841.
New Zealand ranks 1st of 198 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 185 years of available data.
Democracy in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1841 | 0 | — |
| 1842 | 0 | — |
| 1843 | 0 | — |
| 1844 | 0 | — |
| 1845 | 0 | — |
| 1846 | 0 | — |
| 1847 | 0 | — |
| 1848 | 0 | — |
| 1849 | 0 | — |
| 1850 | 0 | — |
| 1851 | 0 | — |
| 1852 | 0 | — |
| 1853 | 2 | — |
| 1854 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 4 | +100.0% |
| 1866 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 5 | +25.0% |
| 1880 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 7 | +40.0% |
| 1894 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 6 | -14.3% |
| 1915 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 7 | +16.7% |
| 1920 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 6 | -14.3% |
| 1941 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 7 | +16.7% |
| 1947 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 7 | +0.0% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 7 is above the median for high income countries, which is 7, 1.0× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 7 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 7, 1.0× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1840s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 1850s | 1.4 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| 1860s | 3 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| 1870s | 4.1 | 4 | 5 | 10 |
| 1880s | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| 1890s | 6.4 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
| 1900s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| 1910s | 6.5 | 6 | 7 | 10 |
| 1920s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| 1930s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| 1940s | 6.4 | 6 | 7 | 10 |
| 1950s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| 1960s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| 1970s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| 1980s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| 1990s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| 2000s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| 2020s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 1 Andorra 7 compare
- 1 Antigua and Barbuda 7 compare
- 1 Argentina 7 compare
- 1 Australia 7 compare
- 1 Austria 7 compare
- 1 Bahamas 7 compare
- 1 Barbados 7 compare
- 1 Belgium 7 compare
- 1 Belize 7 compare
- 1 Brazil 7 compare
- 1 Bulgaria 7 compare
- 1 Canada 7 compare
- 1 Cape Verde 7 compare
- 1 Chile 7 compare
- 1 Costa Rica 7 compare
- 1 Croatia 7 compare
- 1 Cyprus 7 compare
- 1 Czechia 7 compare
- 1 Denmark 7 compare
- 1 Dominica 7 compare
- 1 Dominican Republic 7 compare
- 1 Estonia 7 compare
- 1 Fiji 7 compare
- 1 Finland 7 compare
- 1 France 7 compare
- 1 Germany 7 compare
- 1 Ghana 7 compare
- 1 Greece 7 compare
- 1 Grenada 7 compare
- 1 Guyana 7 compare
- 1 Iceland 7 compare
- 1 Ireland 7 compare
- 1 Italy 7 compare
- 1 Jamaica 7 compare
- 1 Japan 7 compare
- 1 Kiribati 7 compare
- 1 Latvia 7 compare
- 1 Lithuania 7 compare
- 1 Luxembourg 7 compare
- 1 Malta 7 compare
- 1 Marshall Islands 7 compare
- 1 Mauritius 7 compare
- 1 Micronesia (country) 7 compare
- 1 Mongolia 7 compare
- 1 Namibia 7 compare
- 1 Nauru 7 compare
- 1 Netherlands 7 compare
- 1 Norway 7 compare
- 1 Palau 7 compare
- 1 Panama 7 compare
- 1 Papua New Guinea 7 compare
- 1 Poland 7 compare
- 1 Portugal 7 compare
- 1 Romania 7 compare
- 1 Saint Kitts and Nevis 7 compare
- 1 Saint Lucia 7 compare
- 1 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 7 compare
- 1 Samoa 7 compare
- 1 San Marino 7 compare
- 1 Sao Tome and Principe 7 compare
- 1 Seychelles 7 compare
- 1 Slovenia 7 compare
- 1 South Africa 7 compare
- 1 South Korea 7 compare
- 1 Spain 7 compare
- 1 Suriname 7 compare
- 1 Sweden 7 compare
- 1 Switzerland 7 compare
- 1 Taiwan 7 compare
- 1 Tonga 7 compare
- 1 Trinidad and Tobago 7 compare
- 1 Tuvalu 7 compare
- 1 United Kingdom 7 compare
- 1 United States 7 compare
- 1 Uruguay 7 compare
- 1 Vanuatu 7 compare
More public sector data for New Zealand
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is democracy in New Zealand?
- Democracy in New Zealand was 7 in 2025, according to Lexical Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest democracy recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 7 in 1893.
- What is the lowest democracy recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1841.
- How does New Zealand rank for democracy?
- New Zealand ranks 1st out of 198 countries with data for 2025.
- Is democracy rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Lexical Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 185 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Identifies the political regime of a country. It distinguishes between non-electoral autocracies (score 0), one-party autocracies (score 1), multi-party autocracies without elected executive (score 2), multi-party autocracies (score 3), exclusive democracies (score 4), male democracies (score 5), electoral democracies (score 6), and full democracies (score 7).